Topics in Geriatrics: Motivating Older Adults to Participate in Physical Activity
Participation in regular physical activity has been proven to be linked to various health benefits in all populations, especially with older adults. Yet, even with recognized benefits many in the older adult population are not engaging in physical activity for a host of reasons. Objectives:
The objectives of this page is to:
Understand why physical activity is vital to the older population
Understand barriers to physical activity and exercise for older adults
Understand and incorporate use the Wheel of Motivation and EASY tool
Understand ways to help motivate older adults participate in physical activity
Information about this topic:
Why physical activity for this population is so important?
Daily recommendation guidelines for physical activity participation in older adults include at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise. Participation in regular physical activity and exercise in geriatric population can help to maintain overall health and function as well as help to prevent/combat risk factors associated with chronic diseases. It can have an impact on the on the healthcare industry by helping to decrease the need for services and may also assist in decreasing associated costs.
Barriers to participation in physical activity for older adults:
Even though involvement in some form of physical activity has many benefits, there are many barriers, identified by multiple sources, which the older adult population contends prevents them from partaking in physical activities. According to Schutzer et al., some elderly patient believe that they may be too old or fail to participate in physical activities. Other barriers include health status, environment and limited access to facilities, decreased knowledge of benefits that regular participation in physical activity can provide, lack of expert [physician] advice, and lack of childhood exercise that continues to carry over into adulthood.
What is the Wheel of Motivation and EASY tool?
Resnick and Ory describe the Wheel of Motivation, attached, as a tool that helps to envision the many factors that play into motivation. It can be used by all healthcare providers and should be referred to before preparing/implementing physical activity programs. It assists in determine the factors that play a role in motivation difficulties and can support adherence among individuals.
As healthcare providers using this instrument along with the EASY (Exercise Assessment and Screening for You) tool can help to help individually tailor exercise programs for the geriatric population. The EASY tool was developed to help identify activity regimens to meet specific needs of those with existing health conditions and disabilities (Resnick 2008).
Ways to motivate this patient population:
Along with employing the Wheel of Motivation and the EASY tool, listed below are a few ideas to incorporate when trying to motivate the geriatric population:
Build a relationship of trust
Explain the benefits of engaging in physical activity
Bolster self-efficacy
Encourage social interaction including partner/group exercise
Salience and help increase intrinsic motivation
Formulate an individual approaches
Set short and long term goals
Make the activities enjoyable
Additional Resources:
Here are a few additional resources that you may find helpful to help motivated and help influence older adults to become more physically active. Most have reoccurring themes along with some additional suggestions:
This site provides 5 easy ways to help encourage seniors for the book “How to Communicate Effectively with Seniors”:
References: Schutzer K. Barriers and motivations to exercise in older adults. Preventive Medicine. 2004;39(5):1056-1061.
Sweeney AM, Wilson DK, Horn MLV. Longitudinal relationships between self-concept for physical activity and neighborhood social life as predictors of physical activity among older African American adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2017;14(1).
Bennett JA, Winters-Stone K. Motivating older adults to exercise: what works? Age and Ageing. 2011;40(2):148-149.
Resnick B, Ory MG. Motivating frail older adults to be physically active. The Journal on Active Aging. 2006:41-46.
Resnick. B. A proposal for a new screening paradigm and tool called Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY). Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2008: 16(2): 215-33.
Dacey M. Older Adults Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Toward Physical Activity. American Journal of Health Behavior. 2008;32(6).
Participation in regular physical activity has been proven to be linked to various health benefits in all populations, especially with older adults. Yet, even with recognized benefits many in the older adult population are not engaging in physical activity for a host of reasons.
Objectives:
The objectives of this page is to:
Information about this topic:
Why physical activity for this population is so important?
Daily recommendation guidelines for physical activity participation in older adults include at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise. Participation in regular physical activity and exercise in geriatric population can help to maintain overall health and function as well as help to prevent/combat risk factors associated with chronic diseases. It can have an impact on the on the healthcare industry by helping to decrease the need for services and may also assist in decreasing associated costs.
Barriers to participation in physical activity for older adults:
Even though involvement in some form of physical activity has many benefits, there are many barriers, identified by multiple sources, which the older adult population contends prevents them from partaking in physical activities. According to Schutzer et al., some elderly patient believe that they may be too old or fail to participate in physical activities. Other barriers include health status, environment and limited access to facilities, decreased knowledge of benefits that regular participation in physical activity can provide, lack of expert [physician] advice, and lack of childhood exercise that continues to carry over into adulthood.
What is the Wheel of Motivation and EASY tool?
Resnick and Ory describe the Wheel of Motivation, attached, as a tool that helps to envision the many factors that play into motivation. It can be used by all healthcare providers and should be referred to before preparing/implementing physical activity programs. It assists in determine the factors that play a role in motivation difficulties and can support adherence among individuals.
As healthcare providers using this instrument along with the EASY (Exercise Assessment and Screening for You) tool can help to help individually tailor exercise programs for the geriatric population. The EASY tool was developed to help identify activity regimens to meet specific needs of those with existing health conditions and disabilities (Resnick 2008).
Ways to motivate this patient population:
Along with employing the Wheel of Motivation and the EASY tool, listed below are a few ideas to incorporate when trying to motivate the geriatric population:
Additional Resources:
Here are a few additional resources that you may find helpful to help motivated and help influence older adults to become more physically active. Most have reoccurring themes along with some additional suggestions:
- This site provides 5 easy ways to help encourage seniors for the book “How to Communicate Effectively with Seniors”:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201503/5-ways-motivate-and-encourage-seniors- Keys to enhancing exercise motivation:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/enhance-exercise-motivation-171251.htm- How to get the elderly motivated to exercise
http://livehealthy.chron.com/elderly-motivated-exercise-6452.html- Motivating your senior loved ones to exercise
https://www.homecareassistancenaples.com/motivating-seniors-to-exercise/- Aging, Exercise, and Motivation
http://www.aahf.info/sec_news/section/aging-motivation_petersen_012407.htmlReferences:
Schutzer K. Barriers and motivations to exercise in older adults. Preventive Medicine. 2004;39(5):1056-1061.
Sweeney AM, Wilson DK, Horn MLV. Longitudinal relationships between self-concept for physical activity and neighborhood social life as predictors of physical activity among older African American adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2017;14(1).
Bennett JA, Winters-Stone K. Motivating older adults to exercise: what works? Age and Ageing. 2011;40(2):148-149.
Resnick B, Ory MG. Motivating frail older adults to be physically active. The Journal on Active Aging. 2006:41-46.
Resnick. B. A proposal for a new screening paradigm and tool called Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY). Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2008: 16(2): 215-33.
Dacey M. Older Adults Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Toward Physical Activity. American Journal of Health Behavior. 2008;32(6).